Train healthcare providers

In order to place people with diabetes at the centre of healthcare provision, healthcare providers must develop a new set of skills. This includes the development and practice of listening and communications skills. These will enable the carers to understand, assess, and address the psychosocial needs of people with diabetes.

A team-based approach should be promoted within the diabetes care team. In order to do this, professional training programmes must allow for the exchange of knowledge and the enhancement of cross-practice competencies. This training should include basic psychosocial intervention skills.

Examples of training healthcare professionals:

The DAWN experiment - a simple learning exercise in communication for healthcare professionals.

www.dawnstudy.jp - New DAWN website from JAPAN engaging people with diabetes and healthcare providers with various tools and information.